Context:

Global trust in news has fallen to an all-time low of about 37%, with the UK dropping to 30% and the US at roughly 25%, signaling a broad rise in anxiety and cynicism about coverage of long-running issues. While audiences increasingly turn to third-party platforms and online video for news, confidence in social media as a source remains low and traditional outlets still retain some popularity in the UK. The report notes a desire for news that is more accessible, understandable, and relevant, even as interest in AI chatbots for answers sits around 20% globally. Implications point to a media landscape where creators and video formats augment but do not replace traditional journalism, suggesting a transitional period rather than a collapse of trust. Looking ahead, the Reuters Institute highlights openness to new formats and the continued demand for impartial, high-quality reporting as the key path forward.

Dive Deeper:

• The Reuters Institute surveyed nearly 100,000 people across 48 markets and found global trust in news at about 37%, a year-on-year drop.

• In the UK, trust fell five points to 30%, amounting to roughly a 20-point decline over the past decade, with traditional sources still playing a larger role there than in other regions.

• Reliance on third-party platforms and social media for news has increased, though many respondents still consume news via websites and TV; overall confidence in social media as a news source remains low at around 22%.

• AI chatbot answers are trusted by about 20% globally, with weekly usage rising from 7% to 10% and 16% among those under 35, indicating growing but limited reliance on automated sources.

• Impartial news retains support, but trust metrics have dipped slightly since 2020, signaling a persistent demand for nonpartisan reporting amid changing consumption habits.

• Online news video is now mainstream, with 77% of people worldwide consuming it weekly, and it is ahead of broadcast TV news in most markets except a few European countries.

• The report argues that the increased popularity of creators and online video reflects a desire for more accessible, understandable, and relevant news rather than a wholesale abandonment of traditional journalism.